The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has successfully secured a final forfeiture order for 48 properties linked to the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN.
The properties have been forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria following a judgment delivered on Wednesday by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice Abdulmalik ruled that the EFCC sufficiently established that the properties were “reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.”
The court emphasized that the respondents, which included Malami and 14 of his associates and family members, failed to discharge the evidential burden of proving that the assets were acquired through legitimate sources of income.
The judge noted that the respondents offered “bare assertions of ownership” without providing the necessary documentation or proof of lawful funding, which is a requirement in non-conviction-based forfeiture proceedings.
The court ordered the final forfeiture of the following properties:
Educational & Institutional Assets
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Rayhaan University, Kebbi State: Includes the Permanent Site, Temporary Site, Third Site, the Vice Chancellor’s House, and Rayhaan Radio located along Sani Abacha Bypass Road, Birnin Kebbi.
Hotels, Commercial, & Hospitality Assets
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Hotels: Harmonia Hotels Ltd (No. 3 Onitsha Crescent, Garki, Abuja); Meethaq Hotels Ltd (Plot 683, Jabi, Abuja – 53 rooms); Meethaq Hotels Ltd (No. 3 Rhine Street, Maitama, Abuja – 15 rooms); and Zeennoor Hotel (Kabuga Satellite Town, Kano – 131 rooms).
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Commercial Plazas & Shops: Shop C52, Citiscape – Shariff Plaza (Wuse II); Shops A36 and B3, Vegas Mall (Wuse II); two warehouse shops B40 and B46 (Wuse Market); and an uncompleted two-storey plaza opposite Central Motor Park, Birnin Kebbi.
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Agro-Industrial & Energy: Rayhaan Agro Allied Factory (Kebbi); Al-Afiya Energy tanker garage; and Amasdul Oil and Gas Ltd. filling station structure.
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Azbir Assets (Kebbi): Azbir Hotel, Printing Press, Gallery, Gardens, Mosque, Clothing store, and Pharmacy/Supermarket.
Residential & Landed Properties
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Abuja: Luxury duplex (Amazon Street, Maitama); Property No. 3130 (Asokoro); Property No. 1241B (Asokoro); No. 26 Babbi Drive (BUA Estate); No. 27 EFAB Estate (Gwarimpa); Plot No. 13 (IPENT 7 Estate, Karsana); No. 12 Yalinga Street (Wuse II); and twin houses at Zone E, Apo Legislative Quarters.
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Kano/Kaduna: No. 4 Ahmadu Bello Way (Nasarawa GRA, Kano); Plot 157, Lamido (Nasarawa GRA, Kano); Zeennoor Mosque (Kano); and a four-bedroom house with boys’ quarters at No. 10B Doka Crescent (Abakpa GRA, Kaduna).
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Birnin Kebbi: Four-bedroom bungalow (Gesse Phase II); commercial plaza/warehouse near Birnin Kebbi Market; Rayhaan Security House; and two 100-hectare plots along Birnin Kebbi–Jega Road.
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Khadimiyya Initiative Assets: Nine units of three-bedroom bungalows, three units of two-bedroom bungalows, and 5.4 hectares of land at Academic Garden City, Birnin Kebbi.
This judgment follows an interim forfeiture order granted on January 6, 2026, by Justice Emeka Nwite. Following the interim order, the EFCC published the details in national dailies to allow interested parties to contest the move.
Malami and 14 others filed applications challenging the court’s jurisdiction and the seizure of the assets, but the court ultimately ruled in favor of the EFCC.
